Queens, NY — Old Luo Yang Restaurant, a Chinese restaurant located at 135-42 39th Avenue in Flushing, received a score of 32 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 18, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, the lowest grade issued under the city's restaurant grading system.
The inspection identified one critical violation and no non-critical violations. The data was released by DOHMH on March 20, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors cited Old Luo Yang Restaurant for a single critical violation under code 06F: wiping cloths were not stored clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses.
Wiping cloths are used throughout restaurant operations to clean food preparation surfaces, equipment, and countertops. When these cloths are not properly stored — either kept clean and dry or submerged in an approved sanitizing solution at the correct concentration — they can become a vehicle for cross-contamination. Bacteria from raw food residue, soiled surfaces, or improper handling can transfer to food-contact surfaces the next time the cloth is used.
The violation is classified as critical because it represents a condition that could directly contribute to foodborne illness if left uncorrected.
Food Safety Context
The NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes sanitation requirements for all food service establishments operating within the five boroughs. Under these regulations, wiping cloths used for cleaning food-contact surfaces must be stored in a sanitizing solution of appropriate concentration between uses, or kept clean and dry if not in active use. This requirement aligns with the FDA Food Code, which specifies that wet wiping cloths must be held in a chemical sanitizer solution at concentrations outlined for the specific sanitizer being used.
Proper wiping cloth management is a foundational element of restaurant sanitation programs. The requirement exists because cloths used repeatedly without proper sanitizing can accumulate harmful bacteria including Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, which may then be spread to surfaces where food is prepared or served.
DOHMH inspectors evaluate wiping cloth storage as part of routine inspections, and the violation can contribute significantly to a restaurant's overall score when documented.
Inspection History
Old Luo Yang Restaurant's recent inspection record shows a pattern of elevated scores over the past two years:
- March 18, 2026: Score 32 (Grade C)
- July 10, 2025: Score 41
- February 26, 2025: Score 41 (Grade C)
- May 9, 2024: Score 29
- August 24, 2022: Score 13
The restaurant's most recent passing score was recorded in August 2022, when it received a 13 — within the Grade A range. Since then, the establishment has not scored below 29 on any inspection. The two inspections in 2025 each resulted in a score of 41, and the current score of 32 marks the third consecutive inspection with a score of 28 or above.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points accumulated during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Each violation carries a specific point value based on its severity and the conditions observed. Critical violations — those most likely to contribute to foodborne illness — generally carry higher point values than general (non-critical) violations.
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection. The restaurant posts the grade from its best inspection cycle outcome. Grade cards must be displayed at the restaurant's entrance where they are visible to the public.
Consumers can look up any restaurant's full inspection history, including specific violations cited, through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database available online. The NYC 311 system also allows residents to file complaints or inquiries about food establishment sanitation.
The full inspection record for Old Luo Yang Restaurant and all other NYC food service establishments is available as public data through the city's open data portal.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Old Luo Yang Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.